Did you grow up going to the theatre? For many of us from Muslim and working-class backgrounds, the answer is likely no. For a long time, theatre has carried a reputation of being an inaccessible and exclusive art form – not just financially, but culturally. Beyond just buying a ticket, it’s been about whether we see ourselves represented on stage at all. While film and television have slowly broadened in representation, theatre has often lagged, shaped by traditions and institutions that haven’t always centred our communities. 

But all that’s changing now.

More Muslim playwrights are telling complex, nuanced stories that move beyond stereotypes and tokenism. Their work explores faith, family, politics, migration, love and identity in ways that feel honest and rooted in lived experience. These plays aren’t just about visibility, they’re about telling our stories on our own terms.

From past productions that broke new ground to exciting upcoming shows, here are Amaliah’s top picks of the best theatre plays by Muslim writers that are paving the way.

Sweetmeats

Hema hasn’t touched a sweet treat in years. Determined to be healthier, she’s committed herself to change and is attending a type 2 diabetes course, following the rules and doing everything “right”. 

Then, Liaquat walks in. Unapologetic and mischievous, Liaquat isn’t interested in living cautiously and nudges Hema to loosen her grip, to taste life again, quite literally.

What begins as an unlikely friendship soon deepens into something neither of them expected. This intimate play is a rare and moving love story between two South Asian elders, brimming with warmth and humour from Brown Boys Swim writer Karim Khan. It is running at the Bush Theatre until 21st March, and is a charming reminder that it’s never too late to fall in love or start your life over.

Great News for Amaliah Readers! ✨

🎟 You can grab tickets for just £10 using our code: AMALIAH10. (For shows between 23rd – 14th March on Band B and Band C tickets. Limited availability.)

Dugsi Dayz

From celebrated British-Somali playwright Sabrina Ali came Dugsi Dayz in 2024, a hilarious story of four girls stuck in dugsi detention on a Saturday afternoon.

Inspired by 1985’s The Breakfast Club, the play is a joyful and chaotic exploration of Somali Muslim girlhood and female friendship, as the characters learn they have much more in common than they first thought.

From scary aunties to side-eyes for wearing skinny jeans, the writing, production and acting transported audiences into a London mosque – complete with Kaaba sculptures, prayer mats and perfectly executed judgmental glances. Its run at Rich Mix Theatre may have ended, but fans can look forward to an exciting TV adaptation of the buzzworthy production.

Blue Mist

It’s not every day that you enter the theatre and feel like you’ve stepped into a shisha lounge, thick with the sweet, heady scent of blueberry mist in the air. Mohamed-Zain Dada’s debut play does just that. 

Blue Mist follows three young Pakistani men who are navigating friendship, discrimination and masculinity in a system stacked against them. 

At its heart is aspiring journalist Jihad, played by Omar Bynon, who is determined to fight back, yet finds himself caught between platforming his community and battling the stereotypes imposed upon it, resulting in devastating consequences. Premiering at the Royal Court Theatre, the show earned a prestigious Olivier nomination and won Best Stage Production at the Asian Media Awards.

Crush

From Dugsi Dayz alum Hadsan Mohamud came Crush, a tender yet honest story of identity, mental health and connection told from a clinic waiting room – an unexpected place for an awkward yet sweet meet-cute.

Najma is chatty and seasoned by years of treatment. Zakariya is warm and gentle, yet just beginning his journey. When the young Somalis meet, their chemistry is immediate, but healing isn’t straightforward, and their growing connection is tested by what the other is secretly carrying. While its sold-out run at the Soho Theatre has closed, keep your eyes peeled for more performances of this heartfelt gem.

Peanut Butter and Blueberries

Peanut butter and blueberries might sound like an odd flavour combination for a sandwich, but in poet and writer Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan’s debut play, it became a symbol for an equally unexpected romance. 

Here, we meet Bilal and Hafsah, two young South Asian Muslims who meet at SOAS University and bond over, you guessed it, a peanut butter and blueberry sandwich.

But, this isn’t just your average boy-meets-girl love story as we celebrate the joys and challenges of young Muslim life with nuance and authenticity, which is plagued with heartbreaking challenges and tough decisions against a backdrop of hostile politics. Its sold-out run at the Kiln Theatre was accompanied by a prayer room, accommodated timings and a theatre full of people who felt deeply seen on stage.

My Mum Told Me Not To Marry An Atheist

Meet Dadi, a quick-witted radio host and DJ, and self-appointed family interrogator. Fierce, funny, and always armed with a mic, she’s spent a lifetime stirring up intergenerational trouble alongside her granddaughter, Kamal.

But when Kamal sends her mysterious “friend” – known only as The Boy – all the way to Pakistan to win Dadi over, the real drama begins. As Dadi sets out to separate fact from fiction, the punchlines give way to something more tender: a grandmother–granddaughter bond pushed to its limits.

Blending theatrical storytelling with live DJing and audience interaction, this vibrant solo show (coming to Camden People’s Theatre from 19th to 24th March) promises an immersive exploration of love, marriage and expectation.

Whether you’re a seasoned theatregoer or someone who has never considered it a space for you, you might want to add a trip to the theatre to your 2026 plans. Progress might have been slow, but plays like these reveal that our multifaceted, unapologetic narratives are finally beginning to be explored with nuance and authenticity in spaces once considered the preserve of the elite.